Here's how Team USA's Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone did in the 400-meter hurdles final

PARIS, France — Team USA's Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone cruised into her third Olympic gold in an epic showdown against Dutch rival Femke Bol.

The women's 400-meter hurdles final featured a big finish by the American, who defended her 2020 Toyko Games title. She broke her own world record as well.

The 25-year-old American has now lowered the world record six times. She was in the lead around the corner and breezed down the home stretch to beat teammate Anna Cockrell by 1.50 seconds.

This was billed as one of the must-see races at the Stade de France, given the rivalry between McLaughlin-Levrone and Femke Bol of the Netherlands. Cockrell crashed the party, with Bol finishing third.

Both women excelled in their semifinal heats earlier this week, making Thursday's matchup even more exciting. 

“Iron sharpens iron," McLaughlin-Levrone said Tuesday night at Stade de France after her semifinal heat to qualify for the medal race. "It’s always fun racing the best, and I know we’re going to push each other.”

The New Jersey-born McLaughlin-Levrone initially claimed the world record in the 400 hurdles in 2021, and then broke it four more times to get it to the current standard of 50.65, which occurred at the U.S. Olympic trials in June.

Bol is the reigning world champion and already picked up a gold in Paris with a terrific last leg for the Dutch in the 4x400-meter mixed relay on Saturday.

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